Lever



July `?9, 1930? v H. J. scHLUTER 1,771,467

' LEVER MEcHANI'sM Filed Deo. 10. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1*' c4' .f l

Illlllii liil mmm www liliv 4- Illilwmmm n" 5 a fr?" @7^ l Patented `uly29, 1930 UNITED STATES APATENT oFFICE HENRY J. sCHLUTEmoF CHICAGO,ILLINoIs, AssIenoRIo ir.` C. vinaAciAny INC., or Y CHICAGO, ILLINoIs, Aconronarron or ILLINOIS Y LEVER MECHANISM Application led December. 10,1928. Serial No. 324,928.

My invention relates to lever mechanism which is operated by pedals andresides in the provision of :means whereby the pedals may be shiftedwithout the necessity of shifting the elements whose movement is to beeffected by the pedals with the result that the pedals `may be shiftedto suit the convenience and purpose of the operators thereof.

My invention is of particular utility when employed for controlling theapplication and release of sound dampeners which are normally applied tosound producing bars of musical instruments ofthe Xylophone typealthough theinvention is not to be limited to any par- .15 ticular usethereof.

\ The invention will be more fully explained yby vreference tothe'accompanying drawings in `which Fig. 1 isa plan View of a Xylophonetype of instrument with parts broken away,

the pedal mechanism of my invention being i also illustrated, oneposition of the pedal being indicated by full lines and another positionby dot and dash lines; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on line 2-2 of f,Fig. 1; Fig; 3 isa sectional elevation on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 isa sectional view on line 4-,4pof Fig. V5; Fig. 5 is a sectional view online `5 5 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is aperspective viewillustrating some ofthe parts of the preferred construction in separated relation.

`4&0 are set into vibration. The bars are usually threaded uponstrings 2which are anchored at their endsto posts 3. These posts are carried uponsuitable framework 4 and are preferably provided with open slotsintowhich the ends of the string may be downwardly passed.

rlhe string ends are knotted asin'dicated at 5 to hold them in assemblywith the posts 3. ,Other` frames 6 are disposed below the bars vandcarry the upright resonating tubes 7 whoseaxes are aligned with thegeometrical .framework 4.` The pedal 17is provided upon centers of thebars, respectively. Each horizontal row of vibrant horizontal bars isprovided with a unitary sound dampener which normally engages all thebars in such row and whose removal from the bars is required in orderthat the bars may be set into vibration.

`This unitary sound dampener is inclusive of a suitable horizontalVmounting bar 8 which may be of wood or metal and upon whose to side astrip of felt 9 is disposed. A rod 10 is secured to and depends `fromthe middleof the bar 8.v A coiled-spring 11 surrounds said rod. Theupper end of this spring is seated in a cup 12 whichpresses against thebottom Vof the bar 8. The lower end of this spring is 6 seated 1n a `cup13 which 1s carried by aplate 5 14. The plate 14 is seated at its endsupon ltwo brackets 15 that are carried by the framework. This springnormally servesto press the sound dampener `9 against the bottoms of thesound. producing bars V1.A The sound dampener is maintained parallelwith the rows of bars by means oftwo arms 16 which are Vconnected withend portions of the bar 8 and which, themselves, are pivoted upon the apedallever 18. Thislever is pivoted upon an anchorage 19`which issecured to the strut 20 of the sub-framework 21 on which the frames 4Vand 6 are carried. The pedal lever 18 is connected'to the sounddampening bar 8 by means of linkage that is inclusive of the rod 10.This linkage is also inclusive of another rod 22 which is adj ustablyconnectedwith the lower end of the rod 10.` Rod 22 contains a turnbuckle v23 by which its effective length may be varied to adj ust thenormal height of the pedal 17 from the floor. The sound danipeningpressure of the spring 11`may be light and should be insufficient toraise the ends of the bars engaged thereby to any material eX* tent. Thespring, being light, the foot pressure upon thev pedall? mayconsequently be llight to withdraw the sound dampener from the sound,producing bars. p

The pedal is depressed to withdraw the sound dampener as long as it isdesired to have successively produced tones intermingle, but when itisdesired to stop the intermingling of successively produced tones thepedal is the sound dampener.

released to permit the spring 11 to re-apply The downward movement ofthe pedal is desirably limited bythe floor, the range of movement of thepedal being regulated by the turn buckle 23 as is understood. The pedaldesirably moves through a range of about 178 of an inch.

The anchorage block 19 is supported from a hanger 24 which is carried bythe framework 21. This hanger is horizontally deflected as indicated at24. This deflectedportion 24 of the hanger is formed with aholet-herethrough through which an upright'screw 25 is passed. Thisscrew is threaded into a block 26 having a semi-circular recess in itsbottom side which receives the upper portion of the strut 20. The nut 25upon the screw 25 is screwed down onto the deflected part 24 whereby theblock 26 is anchored to the hanger. Another block 27 formed similarly toblock 26 but symmetrically related thereto receives the lower side ofsaid strut. Screws 28 secure the blocks 26 and 27 together and intoclamping relation with the strut. The anchorage block 19V is assembledwith the block 27 by means of an upright bolt 29 which is screwed intothe block 27 but along which the anchorage block 19 is reeto move. Acoiled spring 30 is seated'upon the head of the bolt 29 and pressesupwardly against the anchorage block 19 to hold this block intoengagement with the block 27. Teeth are provided upon the adjacent facesof the blocks 27 and 19, these teeth being radially disposed.

The teeth upon these blocks intermesh so that block 19 is normallyprevented from turning with respect to block 27. Two teeth upon one ofthese blocks, say the block 19, are sufficient to hold the blocks fromrelative turning movement. The block 19 carries two ears 81 betweenwhich the adjacent end of the pedal lever 18 isreceived and upon whichthis pedal lever is pivoted. V'Vhen it is desired to change the positionof the pedal the anchorage block 19 is depressed against the force ofthe spring 30 whereaiiter the pedal is horizontally swung to the desiredposition whereupon the anchorage block 19 is released to permit thespring 30 to press it upwardly and bring the teeth thereon into meshwith the contiguous teeth on the bottom of block 27. The link 22 has theconnection of its lower end with the intermediate portion of yclaim 1.The combination with a pedal and a lever carrying it; of an anchorageupon which said lever is mounted, said anchorage being shiftable inposition to permit sidewise adjustment of the pedal, wherein theanchorage is in the form of a block that is mounted to turn and whereinthere is another block for positioning the anchorage block, said blockshaving interengaging teeth for positioning the anchorage block.A i n 2.The combinationwith a pedal-anda lever carrying it; of an anchorage uponwhich said lever is mounted, said anchorage being shiitable in positionto permit sidewise adjustment ofthe pedal and av link connected at oneend with said lever and connectible at its other endwith the part thatis to be pedal operated, wherein the anchorage is in the form of a blockthat is mounted to turn and wherein there is another block forpositioning the anchorage block, said blocks having interengaging teethfor positioning the anchorage block.

3. The combination with a pedal and a lever carrying it; of an anchorageupon which said lever is mounted, said anchorage being shiftable inposition to permit sidewise adjustment of the pedal; and a linkconnected at one end with said lever and connectible at its other endwith the part that is to be pedal operated, the connection of one end ofthe link with the lever being flexible to permit this end ofthe link toaccompany the lever in sidewise movement without materially disturbingthe position of the other end of the link, wherein the anchorage is inthe form of a block that is mounted to turn and wherein there is anotherblock for positioning the an chorage block, said blocks havinginterengaging teeth for positioning the anchorage block.

4. The combination with a pedal and a lever carrying it; of an anchorageupon which said lever is mounted, said anchorage being shiftable inposition to permit sidewise adj ustment of the pedal, wherein theanchorage is in the form of a block that is mounted to turn and whereinthere is another block for positioning the anchorage block, said blockshaving interengaging teeth for positioning the anchorage block, andwherein a spring is employed normally to maintain the teeth upon the twoblocks in mesh. e

5. The combination with a pedal and a lever carrying it; of an anchorageupon which said lever is mounted, said anchorage being shiftable inposition to permit sidewise adjustment of the pedal; and a linkconnected at one end with said lever and connectible at its other endwith the part that is to be pedal operated, wherein the anchorage is inthe form of a block that is mounted to turn and wherein there is anotherblock for positioning the anchorage block, said blocks havinginterengaging teeth for positioning the anchorage block and wherein aspring is employed normally to maintain the teeth upon the two blocks inmesh.

6. The combination with a pedal and a lever carrying it; of an anchorageupon which 5 said lever is mounted, said anchorage being shiftable inposition to permit sidewise adjustment of the pedal; and a linkconnected at one end with said lever and connectible at its other endwith the part that is to be pedal 30 operated, the connection of one endof the link with the lever being flexible to permit this end of the linkto accompany the lever in siclewise movement without materially dis-Vturbing the position of the other end of the link, wherein the anchorageis in the form of a block that is mounted to turn and wherein there isanother block for positioning the anchorage block, said blocks havinginterengaging teeth for positioning the anchorage if, block, and whereina spring is employed normally to maintain the teeth upon the two blocksin mesh.

` In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

HENRY J. SCHLUTER.

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